Monday 5 June 2023

IAIN HAS DIED

Iain died today after an accident 2 weeks ago. He was knocked over by a dog that was not on a lead. He sustained a head injury and did not recover.


Born May 4, 1939 - died June 5, 2023

Saturday 13 May 2023

OUT AND ABOUT

Out today litter-picking in Bonhill area (west of Dumbarton).  Gorgeous weather, lots of bags; good craic; coffee n ice cream to finish the day.






Wednesday 10 May 2023

ANOTHER YEAR; ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

79 years young....

Narcisuss for the hall table


After school Ellie (8) and I shared a candle-lit cupcake. 


She and I took this selfie to send to Don who sent a text with birthday wishes (which I read out to everyone at dinnertime).



Iain getting dinner ready and Ellie showing us her gym bag which she sewed herself on my sewing machine


Ellie modelling her sewing project



A last look at the flag before it comes down.

 

Saturday 6 May 2023

CORONATION FOR THOSE WHO LIKE THAT SORT OF THING... AND THE SCOTS WHO DO NOT

The Coronation was held today.  Time to hoist the flag in the garden.



Liz and I watched it on our TV in front of the fire (being a rather damp day).  Like so many North Americans I just love a parade! I am a pushover for all the colour, history, pageantry; the music in the Abbey or out on the Mall; the horses and horsemanship, the carriages and the helicopters and jets in the Fly Past at the end.


My enjoyment lies a lot in associations: watching military tattoos as a child, playing in the school band when we marched around town (can't remember the events), being in Rangers where we learned to hoist flags and I even had a trip to Government House in Victoria to get my Gold Cord in 1962.  Here's proof!


* * * * * * * *
And the Scots?....

..... a nod to most of the rest of Scotland (who are not interested in the Coronation).  Here are photos of a recent trip we took to Glengyle House in Stronaclacher, Loch Katrine.


Ishbela and Alastair came with us.  Ian and Sheila were our hosts and showed us around their home and grounds.

 
Glengyle House


Adjacent to the house is the MacGregor Burying Ground (clan MacGregor - very, very old!)  That's Iain with Alastair behind the headstone.

a window... very curious... function is unknown

This is the view from their house looking south west.  Loch Lomond is on the other side of these hills.  This was all MacGregor land and is the source of many 'cattle rustling' stories.  It's a very deep glen; I can see why stolen cattle could be easily hidden!

All 4 of us enjoyed our host Ian's stories of the history of the MacGregors particularly Rob Roy MacGregor which, says Ian, is very much a case of fact and myth.


Sunday 16 April 2023

APRIL CATCH-UP - UPDATING SCENES OF MILNGAVIE

I need images of Milngavie for brochure work.  Before the leaves come out I managed to collect a few.

Gavin's Mill

Gavin's Mill with my model Ellie

Front entrance to shop


Lennox Park snowdrops

Lennox Park snowdrops

BR train station platform

Welcome sign on east side of precinct

Antonius Park,  Roman remains (opposite Waitrose)

Antonius Park,  Roman remains (opposite Waitrose  former location of Duncan's Garden Centre)


Cairns Church where we hold the concerts

Nethermains Street looking east
 

Thursday 6 April 2023

POST-COVID CATCH UP: MUSIC FIRST - SHALLOW BROWN

Iain and I have been grounded recently having tested positive for Covid.  We are now recovering and getting back to normal. 

The necessity of self-isolating has meant more time listening to the radio.  I discovered this sea shanty today on BBC Radio 3: Shallow Brown.  It's a 'fare-thee-well' folk song maybe about slave departing? maybe it relates to the leaving of a West Indian port as ('Challo' is the Caribbean word for a mixed race person).

Petroc Trelawny's filled in the backstory to the following recording of this "evocative farewell from a beloved".

      "Recorded at Maltings in Snape in December 1968, Britten had struggled to get a copy of the score.  Eventually he heard from the Grainger Library in New York that a photostat was being made of the score [...] It eventually arrived but it wasn't a very good photocopy.  It was a copy of a partially de-faced miniature score.  Britten's assistant, Rosalind Strode [not sure of spelling] worked it up into a form that the conductor could actually use for the recording and then gave it to Britten as a birthday gift!"

It is sung by John Shirley-Quirk and choir is The Ambrosian Singers.  The orchestra is the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Britten. He produces a wonderful 'sound picture' in this video of the above recording:



Fare-thee-well, I’m bound to leave you
Shallow, shallow brown
Fare-thee-well, I’m bound to leave you
Shallow, shallow brown

For my master, he’s bound to sell me
Shallow, shallow brown
For my master, he wants to sell me
Shallow, shallow brown

and there are more verses ......

and in the meantime here is an old and favourite photo:


Peter and friend singing sea shanties at Crinan Basin in 2006



Sunday 19 March 2023

MARCH MARRIAGE ... with MUCH MORE

Alastair and Melanie were married March 3, 2023 in Los Angeles, their home. Melanie's father officiated in the non-religious ceremony.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * Seasonal Roundup * * * * * * * * * * *

This is our last concert for the year and also, after 20 plus years we are going to no longer continue. Sigh... the end of its natural life I reckon.

Mugdock Pond

Ellie aged 8 years old, very keen on anything chocolate!

Ellie a beauty queen in the making!

Mr Fox in our garden at 6 am

Balloch Park pond clearance

Balloch Park daffs, very West Coast i.e. sodden!

River Leven looking into the morning sun 

A wonderful concert with packed audience, lots of meeting and greeting and new people to meet.  Everyone appreciates being able to get out and socialise especially  since the days are getting longer.